Grants for studying or doing research in the U.S.

The 2020-2021 application cycle is closed.

Application deadline for 2021-2022: August 2020

Fulbright Grant Program for Student and Scholars

"The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs, and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship." – J. William Fulbright

The Fulbright Program, sponsored by the U.S. State Department, is the flagship program on international educational exchange and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by former Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, the program has brought some of the world’s finest minds to U.S. campuses and offers program participants insight into U.S. society and values.

The Fulbright Program in Switzerland offers students and scholars with Swiss citizenship and English proficiency funding to pursue studies at the master’s or Ph.D. level or to teach and do research at post-doctoral level. This can be done at any recognized institution of higher education in the United States in almost any field of study. Depending on the program, grant lengths range from three months to one academic year.

Applicants will be supported throughout their application and admission process, will obtain a free J1 visa and will be supported by the American host institute during the entire grant period. Through the program, the applicant can become part of the global community of Fulbright alumni, be connected to the prestigious established community of U.S. researchers and academics, and form an international network of like-minded people.

Ideal applicants are well-rounded people who are academically well prepared, active in their community or even globally engaged, eager to get an insight into U.S. society and values and ready to meet new people.

Medicus Student Exchange Program

Dr. Heinrich Medicus, a late Swiss professor at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Albany) made a permanent gift of stock to the Swiss Benevolent Society of New York (SBS) to establish an exchange program between Switzerland and the United States for qualified students and scholars. The program offers funding for pursuing study at the master’s or Ph.D. level, or teaching and research at post-doctoral level, at any recognized institution of higher education in the United States.